{"id":15,"date":"2019-10-30T10:51:04","date_gmt":"2019-10-30T10:51:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/groups\/garcia-alai\/?page_id=15"},"modified":"2021-06-10T19:12:19","modified_gmt":"2021-06-10T19:12:19","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/groups\/garcia-alai\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Garcia Alai team develops methods for sample optimisation and characterisation for SAXS, MX and EM experiments and applies systematic pipelines of biophysical techniques to solve dynamic structural puzzles, with particular focus on protein-lipid interactions and protein complexes from extremophiles.<\/p>\r\n\n Edit<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n Maria Marta Garcia Alai<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n \n

\n Research Team Leader and Senior Scientist\/ Deputy Head of EMBL Hamburg\n <\/p>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n

\n ORCID:<\/span>\n \n 0000-0002-5200-7816\n <\/a>\n <\/p>\n \n Edit\n <\/a>\n <\/article>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Previous and current research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Structure of the endocytic adaptor complex reveals the basis for efficient membrane anchoring during clathrin-mediated endocytosis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our lab is interested in the protein-lipid interactions that keep adaptor proteins attached to the plasma membrane through endocytosis and trafficking. We use an integrated structural biology approach to study the assembly and disassembly mechanisms of these transient complexes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Data Analysis Platform for molecular biophysics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our team also develops methods for sample characterisation for SAXS, MX and EM experiments and applies systematic pipelines of biophysical techniques to solve dynamic structural puzzles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Data analysis platform for molecular biophysics<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n\n\n

Future projects and goals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Membrane proteins<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In collaboration with groups working in the membrane protein field we are developing highly automated pipelines for sample preparation. These will integrate membrane solubilisation, detergent screening, lipid reconstitution and sample optimization in an automated workflow. Funded access to these new pipelines will be available through the EC-funded iNEXT project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find out about our open positions<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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In yeast, endocytic coat adaptors, Sla2 and Ent1, must remain attached to the plasma membrane to transmit force from the actin cytoskeleton required for successful membrane invagination (right). The hetero-tetrameric unit binds PIP<\/em>2<\/sub> molecules (green) at the ANTH (cyan) and ENTH (grey) interfaces.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n